As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for the 2025 NFL season, their wide receiver room is undergoing significant changes. Five key contributors—DeAndre Hopkins, Hollywood Brown, Justin Watson, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Mecole Hardman—are all set to become free agents when the new league year begins in March. While the Kansas City Chiefs could re-sign some of their free-agent wide receivers, some rumors connect the team to a possible trade for Seattle’s DK Metcalf.
In a February 17 article by Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport, a bold “dream” trade scenario was proposed for the Chiefs: a potential trade for Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver DK Metcalf. While this remains speculative and is not confirmed, the idea has generated significant buzz among fans and analysts alike.
Davenport writes, “It wouldn’t be cheap—a deal of this magnitude could require both Kansas City’s 31st overall pick and a new contract for Metcalf. But the Chiefs are one of a few teams for which dealing its first pick for a proven veteran makes sense.” He further suggests that a passing attack featuring Metcalf alongside Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy would be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
Why Would the Chiefs Pursue DK Metcalf?
Metcalf, 27, has established himself as one of the league’s premier wide receivers since entering the NFL as the 64th overall pick of the 2019 draft. Over his first six seasons with the Seahawks, he has amassed at least 900 receiving yards in every season, eclipsing the 1,000-yard mark three times. He has also tallied 48 career touchdowns, averaging eight per season.
In 2023, Metcalf led the Seahawks in both receiving yards (1,114) and touchdowns (eight), cementing his role as the WR1 for Seattle. However, his future with the team is now in question. The emergence of second-year wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who led the Seahawks in all major statistical categories in 2024, has sparked speculation about Metcalf’s place in Seattle’s long-term plans.
Metcalf is entering the final year of his three-year, $72 million contract. His $31 million cap hit for 2025 is hefty, especially considering the Seahawks are currently $6.4 million over the salary cap. The team may need to either restructure Metcalf’s deal or trade him to create much-needed cap space.
Davenport points out that “the Chiefs, who lack a physical ball-winner on offense, would be a great landing spot for Metcalf,” given their need for a dynamic, reliable receiver. However, any potential trade would come with a significant price tag—likely both Kansas City’s 31st overall pick and a substantial new contract for Metcalf.
Challenges of Acquiring Metcalf
While Metcalf is undeniably a star, the trade would not come without its challenges. The Chiefs would have to part with their first-round pick, which could be valuable for addressing other areas of need, including the offensive line. Additionally, negotiating a new contract for Metcalf would be complicated, as his market value is calculated at three years and $75 million, according to Spotrac. Such a deal would require careful salary cap management to fit under the Chiefs’ payroll. Kansas City would need to restructure some of their higher player contracts to take on an additional big-money contract. However, the longer the contract, the cheaper the Chiefs could make the cap hit for the ’25 season. But with other positional needs – like left tackle – the Chiefs will need to be careful about tying a significant portion of cap space in a wide receiver.
Still, if Kansas City were to pull off a deal for Metcalf, it would certainly be a bold move, but it would also make the team’s offense significantly more potent. A receiving trio of Metcalf, Rice, and Worthy could be one of the most dynamic in the league, creating endless opportunities for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Conclusion
The idea of the Chiefs trading for DK Metcalf is exciting, but it remains speculative for now. While the Chiefs would certainly benefit from adding a proven veteran like Metcalf, the financial and draft implications make such a move challenging. As the 2025 offseason progresses, it will be interesting to see if this trade rumor becomes reality or if the Chiefs explore other options to strengthen their wide receiver room.
